Cliff Lee Signs $120 Million Pact with the Phillies

This afternoon Jayson Stark stated on ESPN.com that the Philadelphia Phillies were the rumored “mystery team” in the mix, along with the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees, for the services of a free agent known as Cliff Lee.

Later in the evening, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal cofirmed via Twitter that the Phillies are involved in the pursuit of Lee. Other info via the likes of Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman (yes, the real one) and others state that the Yankees still have the edge on the monetary value of the contracts offered. However, if location means enough, as Lee stated in the past that he loved his time in Philadelphia, the Phils are certainly a contender to be high on Lee’s list of desired destinations.

Other reports state that the Phillies have touched base with multiple teams in an effort to trade Joe Blanton, which would help to free up money in the team’s ever-rising payroll. Blanton is owed $8.5 million ($17 million total) in each of the 2 years remaining on his contract.

If the Phillies do re-acquire Cliff Lee, plenty of Phillies fans will be overjoyed. However, it will still stand to be mulled over by some that the Phillies gave up several top prospects for Lee, later gave Lee away for very little to Seattle and then spent more money than they’ve ever given any pitcher to bring him back.

UPDATE, 10:20 pm: The twitter comments are coming too quickly to keep posting on here from the big guns, but in summation, it seems to be getting closer and closer to become a reality. Let’s not jump ahead of ourself because NOTHING is even close to done. However, by the sounds of the tweets from Jon Heyman and others, the Phillies may have jumped into the lead.

These “sources” are saying that it is probably not going to happen tonight, but there are so many factors at work tonight. Heyman has said Lee could leave as much as $70 million on the table to sign with the Phillies. Wow. We’ll have more as it comes. -Pat Gallen

UPDATE, 12:04 am: The deal is done! Cliff Lee is a Philadelphia Phillie according to multiple sources. Unbelievable. Welcome to the big time, folks. Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt, Lee. Have fun and Happy Holidays all! – PG

UPDATE, 12:17 am: The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but word is it’s a five-year, $100 million deal. Lee reportedly leaves a seven-year deal on the table from the Yankees that would have been worth more than $150 million. -PG

UPDATE, 12:35 am: Todd Zolecki of MLB.com says the deal is for five years with a vesting sixth-year option. The deal could be worth up to $120 million. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com tweets that the Phillies are working to trade Joe Blanton to free up some salary space. – PG

UPDATE, 10:32 am: Jerry Crasnick has crunched the numbers and this is what it comes down to.

Lee’s deal includes a $27.5 million option that vests if he pitches 200 innings in 2015 or a total of 400 innings over the 2014-15 seasons. If the option doesn’t vest, the deal includes a $12.5 million buyout.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems as though the five years equal out to $107.5 million with the guaranteed buyout in 2015 pushing the grand total to $120 million. The sixth year option, should it vest, would make the deal six-years, $135 million or the same as what the Yankees and Rangers offered as their base salary before options were included.

So yes, it’s a deal. However, Lee is still making plenty of bank, bro. -PG

UPDATE, 11:00 am:Crasnick tweets that he may not be leaving much on the table after all. -PG

Yes Jay, that would be a good question wouldn’t it? I suppose RAJ’s answer would be that now, they have “greater payroll flexibility” as well as “a flourishing minor league system” that they did not necessarily have at this time last year. In essence, He’ll say that now they can afford both Lee and Halladay, whereas last year they couldn’t. And this time they don’t have to give up prospects.

And remember, it was not RAJ’s call to trade Lee last year. Who doesn’t think that the FO told Ruben, “you can have Halladay or Lee, but you can’t have both”. So naturally he picked Halladay and rightly so.

It takes a solid dude to step up to the mic and say “hey I effed up when I traded Lee, and now I’m just trying to correct a mistake”. He would become St. Ruben to Phils’ fans after something like that. IMO.

What big deals have been called correctly by the national pundits? Did they get Werth right? no- Crawford? no. Rosenthal or Heyman (I get them confused) said Jeter was going to Boston!

Maybe the third team is Minnesota, but because MLB knows they are all watching football tonight, they can’t get ratings or hits on the site tonight if they say it’s them. So, what audience with a big population that cares about baseball in the winter could bring big ratings? Philadelphia of course.

What has changed since last winter? Did the payroll budget get bigger?

One thing changed for certain, our overall SP’s are much better than before we traded Lee and our offense got worse. I don’t see RAJ as a copycat, I think the Giants were a fluke.

I dont know how i feel about this……wouldnt carl crawford have been a better sign than cliff lee? he’s younger and we really need a potent outfielder. we already had a top 5 starting pitching rotation….

@AFW – Thanks for the totally unconstructive post. Don’t say “we” please Andrew because you are not a part of “us”. I don’t know where you come from. You can have Greinke and his “social disorder”. And the Phils do have more money than they let on which is why Dave Montgomery has approved a “payroll exception” for the signing of Lee. Hey Dave…either you have the money or you don’t. What are ya gonna take a loan out to sign Cliff? Hardly. What do you think we are…idiots? You got the money…..fork it over.

I for one will not take this one (Phillies bidding for Lee) seriously from the rumor mill. This one defies logic and common sense. You may notice that the writers as twitters did not identified their sources representing Phillies management. I wonder why? (wink, wink)

I saw that report on the YES reporter. I agree with you Geoff and I do not think it would work. That the Phillies have swallowed their pride and admitted to the mistake my trying to sign Lee is a much stronger indication of what they think of the guy than anything some anonymous source could say.

I can’t. You occupy my every waking moment. From the second I wake up to the time I go to bed. Actually, thats not true. But I still think aboutcha lots. Actually, I only feel like I have to address you when you try to represent the colors. You’re somewhat of a poseur..a wannabee. You’re like a little brother in the back seat during a date at the drive in movie (Brady Bunch reference). Whatever clan or team or region or whatever you really identify with….please…go there. And stop poking us with your stick. You’re kinda like a remora (look it up). Just go forth and be happy..somewhere.

Dipstick I can give you my email so I can give you my undivided attention. And you wont have to bore everyone with this.
I understand that you are boring and I am intersting. But really let it go.
I have to say it makes me laugh how some think they are all knowing and better than others. And how seriously they take themselves.
Now go fourth and be happy

I would love to have Lee back. However, the phils FO needs to be wise. If making a financial commitment to Lee is imprudent in that it would limit the club in its attempts to improve other areas, there really is no need. Our starting rotation is fine.

This is all a bunch of c r a p. We don’t need Cliff Lee. We need RHB OF w power, back up utility infielder, real speed leadoff hitter, future defensive SS, young LH bullpen help. So many pieces. Why hamstring ourselves for years. It doesn’t make sense.

Concentrate on the small things, and we will be WFC again. Cliff Lee just means we have another pitcher losing games 1-0, or 2-1 like Hamels last year.

I do like the idea of shedding Blanton’s contract, besides Dennys grand Slam is going to eat all big Joe’s food anyway.

I agree lefty. I also think they would need to trade more than just Blanton to make this work, right? Am I missing something here? I dont mean Raul either because that isn’t likely with all the bats still out there.

I think they will hold onto the rotation. Blanton goes, maybe Raul, they won’t trade shane…Chase. I dunno. There’s some splainin’ to do. Because with this offer they are admitting they have WAY more money than they were letting on. They might have Red Sox – Angels type money, and I actually think they do. Thats pretty clear now. They will have near Yankee money with their next TV deal, with a now richer Comcast…

And Lee isnt taking less to lose in the NLCS.
I just dont think you need 4 aces.
How about oswalt for an all star level OF?
If this happens it will be very interesting to see where the rest of the dominos fall.

Awesome tweets. WHAT is the Phillies offer. Havent found that yet. Lee does not want to be a Yankee, and Sherman is hinting that the Rangers are possibly bluffing with anything over what they have already offered.

Now…WHAT is this contract for. This is really interesting. We have not heard a PEEP as to what the offer was, they came out of nowhere with this. What the H did they offer I wonder, and how much if any did he leave in New York or Texas?

I have to give Jr. props. I have put him down many times. You now have the greatest staff in baseball history. He tried for Werth but Washington overpaid by alot. Lee wants to be here. We all were so depressed when he left. That man is a big time pitcher. We all fell in love with him. Do not worry about right field. Jr. will take care of it. This team is built for now. Now…The Yankees are finished. There pitching is aweful. We have Lee. Lee and Doc is so so so so so so so so sick. Throw in Hamels and Oswalt. I just wet myself. MERRY CHRISTMAS…

No way Andrew. They stole Oswalt. Houston is paying for him. Hamels, well we need that sick lefty on this team with Lee. I just love watching Lee work on the mound. Remember the catch in the world series. sick

Hamels wont be moved, he doesnt make much money at all yet. Oswalt isnt moving either. That IS the top 4. Oswalt waived his no trade to come here if we picked up his option. So they would have to eat money to move him. Thats your top 4. Blanton is going to be traded. Maybe Raul. Maybe someone else in the lineup.

Please do not get me wrong here, I love this and just thinking that you could have Cole Hamels as your Number 4 starter if you and if they do not trade Blanton how good a numbber five starter is out there. I love the fact that Cliff is taking 50 million less to come to Philly. Wonder what Jayson Wreth is thinking about now he could have taken a few years less and made left the same amount of money on the table and then played with the best team in the NL.
But I do worry a little about the offense if Chase, JRoll, Vic and Raul have a down year again. I have said I think Ben Fran should get his shot and I think he will do well, with this how much can you move or pay if you need a bat at the trade dead line
,The one deference between this and Crawford is years, if he would have taken five years and millions less maybe they would have done that. It is amazing how Andrew has changes his tune since eleven pm and I dont always agree with Dipsy, but he knows his stuff and is logical, not that I agree with some of his logic but he has numbers and options that make sense and you my little friend Andrew are a poser

all we can say is– wow! where in the world did this come from? can you imagine the feelings that atlanta, washington, florida, or the mets are feeling?? we are gonna OWN their sorry butts. and i personally think we can get a pretty good bat with blanton….in fact, blantons trade value went up with lee’s signing. amaro prob has a trade already lined up

I think I am just going to sleep until May 29 then wake up and drive down to PA for opening day, Friday opening day Doc, I may have to get tickets for Saturday for Lee, ;and then my Sunday season ticket Hamels or Oswalt. What a great weekend to start the new year
Big Daddy on WIP is ripping Wreth for just taking the money, it obviously shows which one wants to win more it is great. And I love R2C2. I have been saying you have to have a little faith in RAJ and that he would do something big before Chirstmas, and someone was just saying that it is one year ago today that we got Doc not sure if that is true or not. I love the internet live in Vermont listening to wip reading a phillies blog and tivoing all the baseball show so I can watch them talk about Cliff when ever I want. Merry CLIFFmas every one what a great HALLADAY

This is just truly remarkable. A deal like this helps you focus on being a fan- forget about the money, forget about the holes in our lineup or whatever- we got THE most coveted free agent on the market and we have the best rotation in either league without question. I don’t know how it’s going to work but frankly, I don’t care. Rube figured out a way to get it done and today is a day will go down in history as the day that Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phaithful shoved our fists up the arse of entire city of NY… it ain’t about money, it’s about the city of brotherly love and the city of passion. Red Pinstripes > Blue Pinstripes

What a surprise that those d-bags on WIP are ripping Werth. Why?? What purpose does it serve??

Like I said earlier, Jayson’s situation and Cliff’s are completely different. Werth was offered 48M from the Phils ….a 78M difference from the Nats offer. Lee took less to come back here….but he STILL MAKES 120M.

I have no problem with Jayson Werth and his taking the money. Completely different situation.

21.5 million per year, for 5 years
–with a–
27.5 million option for the 6th year (if it vests)

That’s not too bad. Halladay took the bigger paycut though. But this one feels cooler because, as the Original Chuck P said, today “Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phaithful shoved our fists up the arse of entire city of NY… it ain’t about money, it’s about the city of brotherly love and the city of passion.”

“Incidentally, Amaro’s all-in play for Lee would suggest he has some inside information on something about which the rest of us are still only speculating: that MLB will gradually cut through the red tape to expanding the Division Series format from five to seven games.”

Lee’s going to make a bucket of money and that’s fine… to me, this is as much about the statement behind the deal as it is about us getting Cliff Lee; we are not going to lay down just because the Yankees have their checkbooks open. It’s further validation to the rest of the league that players actually like it here- it’s not the terrible place that the national media portrays every time JD Drew comes to town.

He did take a pay cut… not as much of a pay cut as Halladay but it’s a pay cut, none the less.

Why are people ripping Werth? He doesn’t deserve it & he didn’t deserve to be treated this way by the owners either. The Nats offered Werth years & the Phillies didn’t, which amounts to more $$. Werth would’ve taken this. From Werth’s point of view this Lee deal has to make him feel bad. He invested more time & effort into the city & the team than Lee has. And Werth made it clear he wanted to stay. Call it “business” but it was crappy of the owners who have the money & Amaro wasn’t straight w/Werth.

And don’t say the players know it’s business, they’re beyond the emotion, blah blah. That doesn’t hold water, it never did (unless you’re a Yankee). Lee was upset at being traded. He never shut up about it. And the guy was only on this team for 2 mos. Werth was/is upset & he should’ve been, anyone would’ve been in his place.

Anyway, re: Lee – It was dragging on so long I’d stopped caring. MLB interviewed Amaro at the winter mtgs last wk, they asked if he had something up his sleeve & he just looked too smug.

Can’t help wondering who else besides Blanton they’re going to have to trade to free up funds they pretend they so desperately to need. And I can’t help but think as Lefty said many posts before that we still need a good right-handed bat & a leadoff hitter. I mean we’re still a team, not just a list of amazing pitchers.

Oddly, the loser in all of this might be Roy Halladay. How much could he have made in his free agent year? His extension was a modest 3 year $20 million deal (with a fourth year option that becomes guaranteed if he hits certain innings pitched milestones). Cliff Lee at 5 years and $120 million is almost double what he’s making in terms of total money. Of course, Roy Halladay has earned far more than Lee over the course of his career so money was less of a concern for Halladay but I don’t think that it’s out of the realm of possibility that Halladay could have gotten 5 years and $25-30 million (had he waited for free agency).

HOWEVER… Halladay has added a shiny Cy Young award, a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter on his resume (as a Phillie) that he might not have had if he went elsewhere so I’m certain that he’s ok with it.

The age old adage says that pitching wins championships; that was certainly validated this year. We have enough bats to score a few runs- potential all-stars at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, CF, LF and C (and a budding young star in the making in RF)… yeah, I’d say our lineup is going to be ok. Health is critical and rest is important but you can only afford to rest guys if you have the supporting cast… or if you have otherworldly pitching.

The Phillies struggled to score three runs (or less) in almost 50% of their games last season. That’s a dangerous way to play, even with a great starting staff. RAJ is counting on players living up to their past performances and/or having less injuries in 2011. I guess that’s possible, but as players age they tend to get hurt more and decline in production. The loss of Werth is a huge hole to fill – Brown & Ibanez are far from being known quantities. I still think they need an outfielder – preferably righthanded.

Werth is only werth 3 years for 45 to 50 million. Yes the guy had a couple good seasons with us. Lets not get crazy here. He is not an elite player in baseball. A nice player. They guy struck out alot in big spots and did nothing with runners in scoring postion. He also made bone head plays like getting picked off at second by the catcher. Screaming at the fans because they reached for the ball. Some bad plays in the outfield. Tired of looking at the caveman. Swinging from his knee. I did like Werth. I would rather have Lee for the money.

Werth didn’t scream at a fan that REACHED for a ball . . . . he screamed at a fan that was trying to catch a ball that would have otherwise landed on his head, or his son’s head… so he stuck his hands up to try to catch it

Its a lot easier to win a World Series with a mediocore OF than with mediocore pitching

Abstract: We have performed molecular dynamics calculations on CI(-)(H2O)n (n=2,3,…9) pitching clusters. The calculations show that the H20 molecule is killing it in these clusters, while CI(-) remains attached to the city of Philadelphia within the clusters, producing nasty pitching yielding legendary results. We also obtained the maximum energy structures for the CI(-)(H2O)n (n=6,7,8) clusters and found this produces sick winning cycles. From the comparison of these structures with the dynamical structures of the remaining league staffs we conclude that the solvation of CL(-) into Phi-matter is due to the brotherly love effect.

Ted: I agree. Their propensity for NOT scoring last season was scary. It’s obvious people are deliberately not looking at that hole left by Werth.

Jeff: Obviously we disagree. And nobody’s getting crazy. Werth’s ’10 RISP numbers were an anomaly. He wasn’t the only one not hitting in the slump. His K’s aren’t a revelation. Howard has a lot too. So do all the big hitters. He also wasn’t the only one who got picked off at 2nd. Victorino & Brown (2x). Werth also more than made up for any slump from Apr thru early June & Aug thru the playoffs. Without those hitting tears — I’d hate to think where the Phillies might’ve been last season.

Don M: I’m with ya 100% on that green-shirted dad catching the foul ball. People remember back to that game: it was a VERY tense period for the Phillies. That game, that inning, that out specifically was important. Werth & all the fans felt it – they boo’d the dad when he caught the ball. The Phils had been losing for a while. Werth has two kids of his own. He didn’t see the boy when he spoke, prob didn’t know about him until well afterwards. It was a fenderbender in the scheme of life. For the love of Pete – get over it. Sheesh.

Thanks Lefty. I misread. I am not unhappy Werth is gone. I think Werth is a good ballplayer. We will do fine without him. He will get lost in Washington. Lee is is one of my favs. I love this guy. His work ethic. Team player. He fits in with this group. I love pitching. I will love watching these 4.

Ted/Phan – I would be lying if I said that the lack of run scoring didn’t bother me but I think that there are a lot of other variables that played into that… across the board, run scoring was down last year. It was the year of the pitcher and it’s safe to say that we might be heading into a pitcher driven era. Also, injuries decimated our starting lineup and we never really had a chance to watch that lineup gel. Health is important but the age old adage still holds true- pitching wins championships.